vz 52\57

[JHansenAK47]

I just traded for a vz 52/57 in 7.62x39 and was wondering if someone could tell me a little more about caliber conversion inserts? My rifle is marked VZ 52/57 on the side and has an import mark of CAI (Century Arms International) and is marked 7.62x39 by them. What I wanted to know is if my rifle has a chamber insert? I have looked inside and have not been able to determine if the insert is present with certainty. I have looked inside the chamber and can't see one in their but I am not sure if it is there for sure or not. I understand them to not be the full length of the chamber and instead more of a modification to the shoulder of the chamber. I has wondering if Century ever modified VZ rifles or if all vz 52/57s were 7.62x39 chambered barrels from the factory? It looks almost unissued but none of the serial numbers match anywhere. Also I was wondering if there was a way to tell the purpose built 7.62x39 mags from the 7.62x45 ones as this might also provide a clue?Sorry I don't have camera so no pics. Also I won't be able to give any feedback until tomorrow if anybody has any questions.
(in case somebody asks I traded a romanian sks and 100 dollars for it)

 

[Gewehr98]

If the rifle is indeed marked as a VZ-52/57, then there's no insert.

The chamber end of a VZ-52/57 barrel was reamed from the start for the shorter 7.62x39 M43 Soviet round. There's no insert because none is needed.

The VZ-52/57 was a Czech transitional rifle, allowing them to use the 7.62x39 Soviet round (as imposed upon them via the Warsaw Pact) in their indigenous VZ-52 rifle design, until their next issue carbine, the VZ-58, could be fielded in usable numbers.

If your rifle is marked simply VZ-52, with no /57, then you're looking at a 7.62x45 rifle with a chamber insert. Run, don't walk, away from that combination.

 

[JHansenAK47]

Yes it is indeed a vz 52/57 thanks gewehr 98 appreciate it.

 

[candr44]

The VZ52/57 has a notch cut into the receiver for the barrel pin and the VZ52 doesn't. The 52 mags also have an angle on the forward lower corner and the 52/57 mags are sqared off on the same corner. The 52/57 also tends to be in much better condition than the 52.

It sounds like you got the better part of the deal. 52/57 rifles are hard to find and have been steadily going up in value.

The chamber insert will work in a 52 if it is profesionally put in by a gun smith with silver solder. The Mickey Mouse Locktite method used by Century won't last and is dangerous. The 52 magazines might also need to be modified to feed the shorter 7.62x39 round reliably.

 

[Coronach]

... they use Loctite, on a chamber insert?

That's a new and powerful breed of stupid, right there. Put a heat-sensitive adhesive in a critical position on the hottest portion of the gun.

Pure brilliance.

Mike

 

[JHansenAK47]

That's a new and powerful breed of stupid, right there. Put a heat-sensitive adhesive in a critical position on the hottest portion of the gun.

Pure brilliance.

They do have different types of loctite that aren't supposed to be "as" heat sensitive and "permanent". I just think repeated shock loading would make them come out to if the heat didn't get it.

The 52 mags also have an angle on the forward lower corner and the 52/57 mags are sqared off on the same corner.

Thanks candr44 that is the other thing I was wondering. The only thing on the magazine was a stamp saying "U5" and that doesn't tell me much.